The early cool breeze gradually changed to hot sunshine as we relaxed over a drink and sandwiches at the Navigation. Then, following the attractive canal and river scenery to Peathill, we threaded our way past modern industrial scale activity, as large scale machines prepared to lay huge waste pipes along the Goyt river valley. The yellow jacketed workmen were friendly and chatty as we passed, and we were soon back to Gowhole and our cars, thanking John and Barbara for their very pleasant walk.

 

JOHN/BARBARA MCCARTNEY

 

Wednesday April 29th

15 joined Mike Hawkin on his “maiden”walk for us. We left Chadkirk car park in slightly chill sunshine, and entered Mill Lane past the Hydro and a length of tall fencing, where a former leat is being cleared and filled. (This all used to be a pleasant wooded area, alas!) The lane wound round to Valley Cottage and Waterside Farm, where narrow woods with bluebells hugged the river Goyt. After a short rise between open fields, we turned down a newish footpath and across a narrow footbridge (built for the Etherow-Goyt Valley Way and Midshires Way), which took us across into Woodlands Park. After a short climb, the track continued downstream, undulating by the wide river, with lovely beech woods, ransoms (wild garlic), and bluebells to all sides. Then it was past an isolated cricket ground and signs of a former large building before the route approached and climbed into Woodbank Park, with its carved commemoration pole for animals in war.

Vernon Park was ahead for a welcome coffee stop, and loos! We descended a long flight of steps, but made a surprise right turn to a narrow riverside path, in places rather tricky, which opened out to an easy path with close views of Pear Mill, an Electricity Sub-Station, and the rear of Bredbury Hall. A heron allowed us a fleeting close look before it was away, and we were away, and on to a small sandy inlet and
a wide weir, to rejoin and return on our outward route.

The whole 6 mile walk was a joy in the early spring woods and the cool sunshine, and we thanked Mike for showing us a different side of Stockport.

MIKE HAWKIN



TUESDAY May 12th

Mike Moran led a group of 6 on a walk from the NT Hare Hill Gardens, near Prestbury. After a short delay allowing a fierce shower to pass by, we set off in warm sunshine. Unusually we left by the main drive, as the Alderley Edge concession path had a temporary closure, to prevent dogs worrying calving cattle. Initially our route followed quiet lanes, by Adders Moss, then headed round to Edge House Farm, where suddenly a narrow field path brought us into familiar surroundings on Alderley Edge. A brief amble, and loos and picnic tables, allowed us to coffee stop in style and comfort.

Replenished, we trod easy paths beneath gorgeous beech trees and ancient-looking mixed woodland – a convincing deception, as the area of old copper mines and mossy heathland was treeless till only a century or two ago. We threaded our way confidently towards Dickens Wood and by Clock House, before sets of steps took us up and over by Hill Top Farm into Daniel Wood. The closure of the concession through Alders Wood forced a longish detour via Mount Farm and the Prestbury Road, and lengthened our walk to about 5 miles. But, the weather had stayed fine,  the spring woodlands were at their best, and packed lunches were enjoyed back at Hare Hill, so it was an impressive maiden walk led by Mike. Thanks.

WEDNESDAY May 27th   

A flat and easy 5 mile walk in the surrounds of Sale Water Park was the choice of Steve Reynolds, and 13 joined him to discover a very pleasant area of woodland paths, raised riverside dikes, and fascinating lakes and wetland. There was more too, as we ventured around attractive Chorlton Green, with interesting shops worth a longer look on another day – but there was walking to be done!

Coffee stop over, we strode on along Hawthorn Lane past Stretford Cemetery, and towards Cut Hole Bridge; where comfortable benches on the Bridgewater Canal were ideal for our packed lunches – a floating mass of Water Hawthorn catching our eyes. After, we skirted Broad Ees Dole Nature Reserve, straining our eyes at the bird hide – was that a Ring Necked Duck in the distance? Yellow flag iris and last year’s “bulrush” stems were easier to identify. Further on, intrepid youths dared each other to venture into the murky and risky waters of the River Mersey. But we couldn’t wait to see the result, as we returned over Jackson’s Bridge, and en masse rushed for cups of tea at the Mersey Valley Visitor Centre. It had been a lovely walk, and we thanked Steve and Ann for it.

WEDNESDAY June 24th

Walter celebrated his second day as an octogenarian, by leading 9 walkers on mostly familiar ground near Hayfield. Starting from Bowdon Bridge car park, we walked up Kinder Road, along the stream, climbed the steep cobbled pathway by the dam, and followed the path above the reservoir to a coffee stop partly up William Clough.

A sharp left hand turn took us on the panoramic route to the shooting cabin, and there continued towards Carr Meadow. At the high point, we turned down a wide track (using “right to roam”)  passing a grouse butt and descending gently through the heather and wimberry (bilberry) to an early lunch stop at a pleasant sun trap. A curlew flew around, but only one grouse was heard.

We crossed a stream on stepping stones and ambled through the Park Hall Woods, now a NT nature reserve, but formerly famous for its outdoor swimming pool. Across the A624 we joined a footpath once a stiled field path by badger setts, now a graded path with easy gates and no signs of badgers. A short distance along a lane, a
minor road, and another graded path which followed the River Sett (the calico trail) to a general shop - selling ice creams! Merlyn took over to take us past the cricket ground to new childrens play area and soon we were back at Bowdon Bridge. It had been a lovely day for walking, with pleasant sun and just a slight breeze, so everyone seemed to enjoy the 6 miles or so walk.

WALTER MASON

WEDNESDAY July 29th

David Burke led 12 keen walkers on a circular route around Ford, near Chapel-en-le-Frith. The 6 – 7 mile walk had more ups and downs than most, perhaps totalling 1500 feet of ascent. There was dampness on the ground, and dark clouds which never precipitated, and in the later stages welcome glimpses of sunshine.
The area has a long history of 750 years or so, and we passed Ford, Slack and Bowden Halls, and then an ancient Quaker burial ground by the Chestnut Centre. Later we saw Gowburn Tunnel end (or beginning!) on the Sheffield rail line, and crossed various tributaries of Black Brook, before ascending to the ancient Roych Clough bridleway.

 

TUESDAY August 11th

WEDNESDAY August 26th

Like Daisy Nook, Carrbrook (near Stalybridge) and also in Tameside, was unrecognisable from its former life as a gloomy but thriving mill village. The 15 of us, led by Merlyn, circumnavigated nearby Harridge Hill, gloriously covered in purple heather and giving varied views over the Tame Valley, Manchester, the Cheshire and Lancashire plains, and the nearby Brushes and Swineshaw reservoirs.

Throughout the 5 mile walk Merlyn gave us plenty of well-researched facts and stories. We followed a reputed Roman Road, and we saw searchlight emplacements used in WW2, sites of firing ranges, and the location of former North Britain Farm, once the mecca for Sunday afternoon walks from Stalybridge, and renowned for their teas and cakes.

All in all a thoroughly enjoyable walk on a mostly bright but breezy day, even though colour-blind yours truly couldn’t appreciate the heather colour quite as much as the others!

MERLYN /JOYCE YOUNG

 

WEDNESDAY September 30th

Sam and Irene Chappell took 15 to Rushton Spencer, for a 6 mile walk over to Dane Bridge and back. A light drizzle wet us at first, and left sections of the paths rather heavy, but the rain stopped as we skirted the River Dane, passed a stand of sheep skulls, and some tempting blackberries, and made a coffee stop. A sturdy metal footbridge gave a splendid view of a weir, as we progressed to the Dane Bridge troutery, and admired the fat trout for sale.

Then a steepish ascent towards Wincle Grange farm, with a lunch stop under magnificent beech trees giving a welcome rest. The route now followed pastureland on little-used field paths, past the site of Dumkins, before joining the well-used Gritstone trail down to Barleighford Bridge. There Sam and Irene fed us with sweets to help us up the climb, on a track which led directly to the village of Rushton Spencer. A short stretch of feeder canal for Rudyard Lake, and we arrived back close to the Knot Inn, which was a magnet for half our number. It had been an enjoyable walk, in spite of a humid mist blocking distance views, so Sam and Irene were thanked by all for their efforts.

SAM/IRENE CHAPPELL

 

TUESDAY October 13th

Merlyn and Joyce took a small group of five on a 5½ mile walk ascending Bosley Cloud, and taking in some good paths, country lanes and the Macclesfield canal.

We met at the Timbersbrook picnic area car park, where Merlyn gave us a very interesting history of the mill that was previously on the site from the 1800s until it was demolished in 1966. We walked along a lane and found the footpath that took us to the summit of Bosley Cloud, observing some soaring buzzards on the way. At the top we paused for refreshments, and took in the splendid views. Descending across lanes and fields, past a fine crop of sweet corn, we arrived at the Macclesfield canal where we stopped for our packed lunch. We then had an easy walk along the canal towing path, observing an unusual painted cow at a farm, another lane with some very poisonous looking fungi, then across some fields where we saw lots of farm animals. A lane took us back to the car park after a very pleasant walk.

MERLYN /JOYCE YOUNG

 

Wednesday October 28th

On a lovely bright morning, Richard and Susan Clark reprised their May Tuesday walk from the Davenport Arms, Woodford. This time a group of 16, enjoyed a tour of the flat pasture land surrounding the infant rivers Dean and Bollin, with a smattering of black and white halls, and a few wooded sections; and especially we enjoyed the end of the walk on the delightful footpath skirting Woodford aerodrome, and the perimeter of the Avro golf course.

It wasn’t all joy, as several nights’ heavy showers falling on poorly drained flood plains necessitated a few frantic scrambles, where pools and soggy grassland had blocked our way. However, we all appreciated the chosen route and the lack of hills – and the good food in the Davenport Arms (Thieves’ Neck) afterwards.

Richard and Susan Clark

WEDNESDAY November 25th